Name: Guava Cake Bars (Cuban Masa Real de Guayaba)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 12 bars
Cuisine: Cuban
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature); 1 cup granulated sugar; 4 large eggs (room temperature); 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1/4 cup any milk; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 14 ounces guava paste (sliced 1/2 inch thick)

Guava Cake Bars (Cuban Masa Real de Guayaba)

I’m sure you’ve heard me talk plenty about how much I loved going to the Cuban bakery with my mom on Saturday mornings as a kid. We’d always get Cuban bread, ham croquetas, guava pastelitos and torticas de moron, just to name a few. Well, these guava cake bars would occasionally…

Ready 1 hour

Serves 12 bars

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 45 minutes

Jump to the recipe

We’d always get Cuban bread, ham croquetas, guava pastelitos and torticas de moron, just to name a few. Well, these guava cake bars would occasionally make an appearance and they were DELISH!

What is Masa Real?

In Spanish, these guava cake bars are called masa real (pronounced mah-sah-reh-al) which translates to “royal pastry” or “royal dough”.

Unless you were born in a Cuban family or were brought up here in South Florida, you’re probably clueless about these cake bars. Picture this: A dense vanilla-flavored cake with rich, sweet guava in the middle.

Sounds amazing, right!?

“Made these bars today and they are amazing. The recipe is easy to follow and more importantly, the bars taste delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe!” —Kim

Want more guava recipes? Of course you do. Make my 4-ingredient guava cheese empanadas!

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This Staub casserole dish is absolutely incredible! It has a porcelain-enamel finish and is microwave/dishwasher safe!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Layer evenly: Make sure to spread the guava paste slices evenly over the cake batter to ensure every bite has a balanced flavor of the sweet, tart guava.

Don’t Overmix: Mix the cake batter until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense and tough texture.

Use Parchment Paper: Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides. This makes it easy to lift the bars out of the pan for clean slicing.

Cool Completely: Allow the guava cake bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting. This helps them set and prevents them from falling apart.

Storage Tips

If you plan to consume the guava cake bars within a day or two, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

In the fridge: Place the cut guava cake bars in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 5-7 days. Before serving, allow them to come to room temperature for the best flavor and texture.

In the freezer: Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, and then place them in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw before serving.

That’s all folks! Can’t wait for you to make these cake bars!

Guava Cake Bars (Cuban Masa Real de Guayaba)

Transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise with these highly-rated Guava Cake Bars, a beloved dessert renowned for its irresistible blend of rich, buttery cake layers embracing a sweet guava paste filling. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, our Masa Real recipe is designed to evoke sweet memories that make it a dessert worth celebrating.

Serves 12 bars

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 45 minutes

Total 1 hour